Method of graphically indicating on a wireless communications device that map data is still being downloaded

ABSTRACT

Displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes downloading map data from which the map is to be rendered, rendering portions of the map for which the map data has been fully downloaded, and then graphically overlaying on a portion of the map for which the map data has not yet been fully downloaded a graphical indication, such as hatching, crosshatching or shading, to indicate that further map data is being downloaded. This hatching, crosshatching, shading, or writing informs the user that further map data is being downloaded and that not all of the map features have been rendered yet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/788,434 entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Dynamically Labelling Map Objects in Visually Displayed Maps of Mobile Communication Devices” filed on Mar. 31, 2006 and from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/787,541 entitled “Method and System for Distribution of Map Content to Mobile Communication Devices” filed on Mar. 31, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communications devices and, in particular, to techniques for generating map content on wireless communications devices.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communications devices such as the BlackBerry™ by Research in Motion Limited enable users to download map content from web-based data sources such as BlackBerry Maps™, Google Maps™ or Mapquest™. Downloaded map content is displayed on a small LCD display screen of the wireless communications device for viewing by the user. The user can pan up and down and side to side as well as zoom in or out. When panning into new geographical areas, however, there is sometimes a noticeable lag in rendering the map because of the limited over-the-air (OTA) bandwidth, i.e. the device cannot download all of the map data fast enough to seamlessly pan the map. In some instances, certain aspects of the map can be rendered because the corresponding map data is downloaded first, but further details on the map (e.g. roads, landmarks, etc.) cannot yet be rendered because the map data corresponding to those further details has not yet been downloaded. In those cases, the user might erroneously think that all pertinent details of the map have been completely rendered onscreen when in fact only part of the requested data has been downloaded.

Accordingly, a technique for conveying to the user of the wireless device that a portion of the requested map data is either unavailable or still being downloaded would be highly desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present technology will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating pertinent components of a wireless communications device and of a wireless communications network;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of a wireless communications device;

FIG. 3A is a system diagram of exemplary network components which provide mapping functionality in the wireless communications devices of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B illustrates, by way of example only, a message exchange between a wireless communications device and a map server for downloading map content to the wireless communications device based on the system of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a preferred Maplet data structure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of another example of a wireless network having an applications gateway for optimizing the downloading of map data from map servers to wireless communications devices;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart presenting steps of a method of displaying a map on a wireless device by rendering hatch marks on areas of the map for which map data has not yet been fully downloaded;

FIG. 6 depicts a map rendered on a display of a wireless communications device showing all details and map features after all available map data has been downloaded;

FIG. 7 depicts the map of FIG. 6 wherein a top-left portion of the map is hatched to indicate that further data for that portion of the map is still being downloaded;

FIG. 8 depicts the map of FIG. 6 wherein the top-left portion of the map is crosshatched to indicate that further data for that portion of the map is still being downloaded;

FIG. 9 depicts the map of FIG. 6 wherein the top-left portion of the map is shaded to indicate that further data for that portion of the map is still being downloaded;

FIG. 10 depicts the map of FIG. 6 wherein the top-left portion of the map contains overlaid characters constituting a written message to indicate that further data for that portion of the map is still being downloaded;

FIG. 11 depicts a magnified portion of the map of FIG. 6 wherein the map contains a written message indicating that further detail is unavailable at that zoom level;

FIG. 12 is a screenshot of a map wherein an upper-right portion of the map is hatched to indicate that further map data is being downloaded;

FIG. 13 is a screenshot of the same map of FIG. 12 after the further map data has been downloaded;

FIG. 14 is a screenshot of a map wherein various portions of the map are hatched to indicate that further map data is being downloaded; and

FIG. 15 is a screenshot of the same map of FIG. 14 after the further map data has been downloaded.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology provides, in general, a method for indicating graphically on a display of a wireless communications device that a portion of the map has not yet been rendered onscreen because the corresponding portion of the map data requested by the device has not yet been fully downloaded. The portion of the map for which map data has not yet been fully downloaded can be hatched, crosshatched, or shaded to enable the user to view the underlying aspects of the map while being informed that further map data is being downloaded to render further features of that hatched/crosshatched/shaded area of the map.

Thus, an aspect of the present technology is a method for displaying a map on a wireless communications device that includes steps of downloading map data from which the map is to be rendered, rendering portions of the map for which map data has been fully downloaded, identifying a portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded, and graphically overlaying onto the portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded a graphical indication to indicate that further map data is being downloaded for that portion of the map.

Another aspect of the present technology is a computer program product that includes code adapted to perform the steps of the foregoing method when the computer program product is loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device.

Yet another aspect of the present technology is a wireless communications device for enabling a user of the device to display a map on the device. The wireless device includes an input device for enabling the user to cause the device to download map data from which the map is to be rendered, a processor for rendering portions of the map for which map data has been fully downloaded and for identifying a portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded, and a display for displaying rendered portions of the map and for graphically overlaying onto the portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded a graphical indication to indicate that further map data is being downloaded for that portion of the map.

The details and particulars of these aspects of the technology will now be described below, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system 100 which includes a wireless communications device 102 (also referred to as a mobile communications device) which communications through a wireless communication network 104. For the purposes of the present specification, the expression “wireless communications device” encompasses not only a wireless handheld, cell phone or wireless-enabled laptop but also any mobile communications device or portable communications device such as a satellite phone, wireless-enabled PDA or wireless-enabled MP3 player. In other words, for the purposes of this specification, “wireless” shall be understood as encompassing not only standard cellular or microwave RF technologies, but also any other communications technique that conveys data over the air using an electromagnetic signal.

The wireless communications device 102 preferably includes a visual display 112, e.g. an LCD screen, a keyboard 114 (or keypad), and optionally one or more auxiliary user interfaces (UI) 116, each of which is coupled to a controller 106. The controller 106 is also coupled to radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 108 and an antenna 110. Typically, controller 106 is embodied as a central processing unit (CPU) which runs operating system software in a memory device (described later with reference to FIG. 2). Controller 106 normally controls the overall operation of the wireless communications device 102, whereas signal processing operations associated with communications functions are typically performed in the RF transceiver circuitry 108. Controller 106 interfaces with the display screen 112 to display received information, stored information, user inputs, and the like. Keyboard/keypad 114, which may be a telephone-type keypad or a full QWERTY keyboard, is normally provided for entering commands and data.

The wireless communications device 102 sends communication signals to and receives communication signals from network 104 over a wireless link via antenna 110. RF transceiver circuitry 108 performs functions similar to those of station 118 and Base Station Controller (BSC) 120, including, for example, modulation and demodulation, encoding and decoding, and encryption and decryption. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the RF transceiver circuitry 108 will be adapted to the particular wireless network or networks in which the wireless communications device is intended to operate.

The wireless communications device 102 includes a battery interface 134 for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 132. Battery 132 provides electrical power to electrical circuitry in the device 102, and battery interface 134 provides for a mechanical and electrical connection for battery 132. Battery interface 134 is couple to a regulator 136 which regulates power to the device. When the wireless device 102 is fully operationally, an RF transmitter of RF transceiver circuitry 108 is typically keyed or turned on only when it is sending to network, and is otherwise turned off to conserve resources. Similarly, an RF receiver of RF transceiver circuitry 108 is typically periodically turned off to conserve power until it is needed to receive signals or information (if at all) during designated time periods.

Wireless communications device 102 operates using a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) 140 which is connected to or inserted in the wireless communications device 102 at a SIM interface 142. SIM 140 is one type of a conventional “smart card” used to identify an end user (or subscriber) of wireless device 102 and to personalize the device, among other things. By inserting the SIM card 140 into the wireless communications device 102, an end user can have access to any and all of his subscribed services. SIM 140 generally includes a processor and memory for storing information. Since SIM 140 is coupled to SIM interface 142, it is coupled to controller 106 through communication lines 144. In order to identify the subscriber, SIM 140 contains some user parameters such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantage of using SIM 140 is that end users are not necessarily bound by any single physical wireless device. SIM 140 may store additional user information for the wireless device as well, including datebook (calendar) information and recent call information.

The wireless communications device 102 may consist of a single unit, such as a data communication device, a cellular telephone, a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit, a multiple-function communication device with data and voice communication capabilities, a wireless-enabled personal digital assistant (PDA), or a wireless-enabled laptop computer. Alternatively, the wireless communications device 102 may be a multiple-module unit comprising a plurality of separate components, including but in no way limited to a computer or other device connected to a wireless modem. In particular, for example, in the block diagram of FIG. 1, RF circuitry 108 and antenna 110 may be implemented as a radio modem unit that may be inserted into a port on a laptop computer. In this case, the laptop computer would include display 112, keyboard 114, one or more auxiliary UIs 116, and controller 106 embodied as the computer's CPU.

The wireless communications device 102 communicates in and through a wireless communication network 104. The wireless communication network may be a cellular telecommunications network. In the example presented in FIG. 1, wireless network 104 is configured in accordance with Global Systems for Mobile communications (GSM) and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technologies. Although wireless communication network 104 is described herein as a GSM/GPRS-type network, any suitable network technologies may be utilized such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), whether 2G, 3G, or Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) based technologies. In this example, the GSM/GPRS wireless network 104 includes a base station controller (BSC) 120 with an associated tower station 118, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 122, a Home Location Register (HLR) 132, a Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) 126, and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 128. MSC 122 is coupled to BSC 120 and to a landline network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 124. SGSN 126 is coupled to BSC 120 and to GGSN 128, which is, in turn, coupled to a public or private data network 130 (such as the Internet). HLR 132 is coupled to MSC 122, SGSN 126 and GGSN 128.

Tower station 118 is a fixed transceiver station. Tower station 118 and BSC 120 may be referred to as transceiver equipment. The transceiver equipment provides wireless network coverage for a particular coverage area commonly referred to as a “cell”. The transceiver equipment transmits communication signals to and receives communication signals from wireless communications devices 102 within its cell via station 118. The transceiver equipment normally performs such functions as modulation and possibly encoding and/or encryption of signals to be transmitted to the wireless communications device in accordance with particular, usually predetermined, communication protocols and parameters. The transceiver equipment similar demodulates and possibly decodes and decrypts, if necessary, any communication signals received from the wireless communications device 102 transmitting within its cell. Communication protocols and parameters may vary between different networks. For example, one network may employ a different modulation scheme and operate at different frequencies than other networks.

The wireless link shown in communication system 100 of FIG. 1 represents one or more different channels, typically different radio frequency (RF) channels, and associated protocols used between wireless network 104 and wireless communications device 102. An RF channel is a limited resource that must be conserved, typically due limits in overall bandwidth and a limited battery power of the wireless device 102. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a wireless network in actual practice may include hundreds of cells, each served by a station 118, depending upon desired overall expanse of network coverage. All pertinent components may be connected by multiple switches and routers (not shown), controlled by multiple network controllers.

For all wireless communications devices 102 registered with a network operator, permanent data (such as the user profile associated with each device) as well as temporary data (such as the current location of the device) are stored in the HLR 132. In case of a voice call to the wireless device 102, the HLR 132 is queried to determine the current location of the device 102. A Visitor Location Register (VLR) of MSC 122 is responsible for a group of location areas and stores the data of those wireless devices that are currently in its area of responsibility. This includes parts of the permanent data that have been transmitted from HLR 132 to the VLR for faster access. However, the VLR of MSC 122 may also assign and store local data, such as temporary identifications. Optionally, the VLR of MSC 122 can be enhanced for more efficient co-ordination of GPRS and non-GPRS services and functionality (e.g. paging for circuit-switched calls which can be performed more efficiently via SGSN 126, and combined GPRS and non-GPRS location updates).

Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 126 is at the same hierarchical level as MSC 122 and keeps track of the individual locations of wireless devices 102. SGSN 126 also performs security functions and access control. Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 128 provides internetworking with external packet-switched networks and is connected with SGSNs (such as SGSN 126) via an IP-based GPRS backbone network. SGSN 126 performs authentication and cipher setting procedures based on the same algorithms, keys, and criteria as in existing GSM. In conventional operation, cell selection may be performed autonomously by wireless device 102 or by the transceiver equipment instructing the wireless device to select a particular cell. The wireless device 102 informs wireless network 104 when it reselects another cell or group of cells, known as a routing area.

In order to access GPRS services, the wireless device 102 first makes its presence known to wireless network 104 by performing what is known as a GPRS “attach”. This operation establishes a logical link between the wireless device 102 and SGSN 126 and makes the wireless device 102 available to receive, for example, pages via SGSN, notifications of incoming GPRS data, or SMS messages over GPRS. In order to send and receive GPRS data, the wireless device 102 assists in activating the packet data address that it wants to use. This operation makes the wireless device 102 known to GGSN 128; internetworking with external data networks can thereafter commence. User data may be transferred transparently between the wireless device 102 and the external data networks using, for example, encapsulation and tunnelling. Data packets are equipped with GPRS-specific protocol information and transferred between wireless device 102 and GGSN 128.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a wireless network may be connected to other systems, possibly including other networks, not explicitly shown in FIG. 1. A network will normally be transmitting at very least some sort of paging and system information on an ongoing basis, even if there is no actual packet data exchanged. Although the network consists of many parts, these parts all work together to result in certain behaviours at the wireless link.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a preferred wireless communications device 202. The wireless device 202 is preferably a two-way communication device having at least voice and advanced data communication capabilities, including the capability to communicate with other computer systems. Depending on the functionality provided by the wireless device 202, it may be referred to as a data messaging device, a two-way pager, a cellular telephone with data message capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, or a data communications device (with or without telephony capabilities). The wireless device 202 may communicate with any one of a plurality of fixed transceiver stations 200 within its geographic coverage area.

The wireless communications device 202 will normally incorporate a communication subsystem 211, which includes a receiver 212, a transmitter 214, and associated components, such as one or more (preferably embedded or internal) antenna elements 216 and 218, local oscillators (LO's) 213, and a processing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 220. Communication subsystem 211 is analogous to RF transceiver circuitry 108 and antenna 110 shown in FIG. 1. As will be apparent to those skilled in the field of communications, the particular design of communication subsystem 211 depends on the communication network in which the wireless device 202 is intended to operate.

The wireless device 202 may send and receive communication signals over the network after required network registration or activation procedures have been completed. Signals received by antenna 216 through the network are input to receiver 212, which may perform common receiver functions as signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selection, and the like, and, as shown in the example of FIG. 2, analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. A/D conversion of a received signal allows more complex communication functions such as demodulation and decoding to performed in the DSP 220. In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted are processed, including modulation and encoding, for example, by DSP 220. These DSP-processed signals are input to transmitter 214 for digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission over communication network via antenna 218. DSP 220 not only processes communication signals, but also provides for receiver and transmitter control. For example, the gains applied to communication signals in receiver 212 and transmitter 214 may be adaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithms implemented in the DSP 220.

Network access is associated with a subscriber or user of the wireless device 202, and therefore the wireless device requires a Subscriber Identity Module or SIM card 262 to be inserted in a SIM interface 264 in order to operate in the network. SIM 262 includes those features described in relation to FIG. 1. Wireless device 202 is a battery-powered device so it also includes a battery interface 254 for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 256. Such a battery 256 provides electrical power to most if not all electrical circuitry in the device 102, and battery interface provides for a mechanical and electrical connection for it. The battery interface 254 is coupled to a regulator (not shown) which provides a regulated voltage V to all of the circuitry.

Wireless communications device 202 includes a microprocessor 238 (which is one implementation of controller 106 of FIG. 1) which controls overall operation of wireless device 202. Communication functions, including at least data and voice communications, are performed through communication subsystem 211. Microprocessor 238 also interacts with additional device subsystems such as a display 222, a flash memory 224, a random access memory (RAM) 226, auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystems 228, a serial port 230, a keyboard 232, a speaker 234, a microphone 236, a short-range communications subsystem 240, and any other device subsystems generally designated at 242. Some of the subsystems shown in FIG. 2 perform communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-board functions. Notably, some subsystems, such as keyboard 232 and display 222, for example, may be used for both communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for transmission over a communication network, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task list. Operating system software used by the microprocessor 238 is preferably stored in a persistent (non-volatile) store such as flash memory 224, which may alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM 226.

Microprocessor 238, in addition to its operating system functions, enables execution of software applications on the wireless device 202. A predetermined set of applications which control basic device operations, including at least data and voice communication applications, will normally be installed on the device 202 during its manufacture. For example, the device may be pre-loaded with a personal information manager (PIM) having the ability to organize and manage data items relating to the user's profile, such as e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. Naturally, one or more memory stores are available on the device 202 and SIM 256 to facilitate storage of PIM data items and other information.

The PIM application preferably has the ability to send and receive data items via the wireless network. PIM data items may be seamlessly integrated, synchronized, and updated via the wireless network, with the wireless device user's corresponding data items stored and/or associated with a host computer system thereby creating a mirrored host computer on the wireless device 202 with respect to such items. This is especially advantageous where the host computer system is the wireless device user's office computer system. Additional applications may also be loaded into the memory store(s) of the wireless communications device 202 through the wireless network, the auxiliary I/O subsystem 228, the serial port 230, short-range communications subsystem 240, or any other suitable subsystem 242, and installed by a user in RAM 226 or preferably a non-volatile store (not shown) for execution by the microprocessor 238. Such flexibility in application installation increases the functionality of the wireless device 202 and may provide enhanced onboard functions, communication-related functions or both. For example, secure communication applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other such financial transactions to be performed using the wireless device 202.

In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or a web page download will be processed by communication subsystem 211 and input to microprocessor 238. Microprocessor 238 will preferably further process the signal for output to display 222 or alternatively to auxiliary I/O device 228. A user of the wireless device 202 may also compose data items, such as email messages, for example, using keyboard 232 in conjunction with display 222 and possibly auxiliary I/O device 228. Keyboard 232 is preferably a complete alphanumeric keyboard and/or telephone-type keypad. These composed items may be transmitted over a communication network through communication subsystem 211.

For voice communications, the overall operation of the wireless communications device 202 is substantially similar, except that the received signals would be output to speaker 234 and signals for transmission would be generated by microphone 236. Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on the wireless device 202. Although voice or audio signal output is preferably accomplished primarily through speaker 234, display 222 may also be used to provide an indication of the identity of the calling party, duration on a voice call, or other voice call related information, as some examples.

Serial port 230 in FIG. 2 is normally implemented in a personal digital assistant (PDA)-type communication device for which synchronization with a user's desktop computer is a desirable, albeit optional, component. Serial port 230 enables a user to set preferences through an external device or software application and extends the capabilities of wireless device 202 by providing for information or software downloads to the wireless device 202 other than through the wireless network. The alternate download path may, for example, be used to load an encryption key onto the wireless device 202 through a direct and thus reliable and trusted connection to thereby provide secure device communications.

Short-range communications subsystem 240 of FIG. 2 is an additional optional component which provides for communication between mobile station 202 and different systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For example, subsystem 240 may include an infrared device and associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™ communication module to provide for communication with similarly-enabled systems and devices. Bluetooth™ is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

FIG. 3A is a system diagram of network components which provide mapping functionality in the wireless communication devices of FIGS. 1 and 2. To achieve this, a mapping application is also provided in memory of the wireless communications device for rendering visual maps in its display. Wireless communications devices 202 are connected over a mobile carrier network 303 for communication through a firewall 305 to a relay 307. A request for map data from any one of the wireless communications devices 202 is received at relay 307 and passed via a secure channel 309 through firewall 311 to a corporate enterprise server 313 and corporate mobile data system (MDS) server 315. The request is then passed via firewall 317 to a public map server and/or to a public location-based service (LBS) server 321 which provides location-based services (LBS) to handle the request. The network may include a plurality of such map servers and/or LBS servers where requests are distributed and processed through a load distributing server. The map/LBS data may be stored on this network server 321 in a network database 322, or may be stored on a separate map server and/or LBS server (not shown). Private corporate data stored on corporate map/LBS server 325 may be added to the public data via corporate MDS server 315 on the secure return path to the wireless device 202. Alternatively, where no corporate servers are provided, the request from the wireless device 202 may be passed via relay 307 to a public MDS server 327, which sends the request to the public map/LBS server 321 providing map data or other local-based service in response to the request. For greater clarity, it should be understood that the wireless devices can obtain map data from a “pure” map server offering no location-based services, from an LBS server offering location-based services in addition to map content, or from a combination of servers offering map content and LBS.

A Maplet data structure is provided that contains all of the graphic and labelled content associated with a geographic area (e.g. map features such as restaurants (point features), streets (line features) or lakes (polygon features)). Maplets are structured in Layers of Data Entries (“DEntries”) identified by a “Layer ID” to enable data from different sources to be deployed to the device and meshed for proper rendering. Each DEntry is representative of one or more artefact or label (or a combination of both) and includes coordinate information (also referred to as a “bounding box” or “bounding area”) to identify the area covered by the DEntry and a plurality of data points that together represent the artefact, feature or label. For example, a DEntry may be used to represent a street on a city map (or a plurality of streets), wherein the various points within the DEntry are separated into different parts representing various portions of the artefact or map feature (e.g. portions of the street). A wireless device may issue a request for the map server to download only those DEntries that are included within a specified area or bounding box representing an area of interest that can be represented by, for example, a pair of bottom left, top right coordinates.

As depicted in FIG. 3B, the wireless communications device issues one or more AOI (Area of Interest) requests, DEntry or data requests and Maplet Index requests to the map server for selective downloading of map data based on user context. Thus, rather than transmitting the entire map data for an area in reply to each request from the device (which burdens the wireless link), local caching may be used in conjunction with context filtering of map data on the server. For example, if a user's wireless device is GPS enabled and the user is traveling in an automobile at 120 km/h along a freeway then context filtering can by employed to prevent downloading of map data relating to passing side streets. Or, if the user is traveling in an airplane at 30,000 feet, then context filtering can be employed to prevent downloading of map data for any streets whatsoever. Also, a user's context can be defined, for example, in terms of occupation, e.g. a user whose occupation is a transport truck driver can employ context filtering to prevent downloading of map data for side streets on which the user's truck is incapable of traveling, or a user whose occupation is to replenish supplied of soft drink dispensing machines can employ context filtering to download public map data showing the user's geographical area of responsibility with irrelevant features such as lakes and parks filtered out and private map data containing the location of soft drink dispensing machines superimposed on the public map data.

The Maplet Index request results in a Maplet Index (i.e. only a portion of the Maplet that provides a table of contents of the map data available within the Maplet rather than the entire Maplet) being downloaded from the map server to the device, thereby conserving OTA (Over-the-Air) bandwidth and device memory caching requirements. The Maplet Index conforms to the same data structure as a Maplet, but omits the data points. Consequently, the Maplet Index is small (e.g. 300-400 bytes) relative to the size of a fully populated Maplet or a conventional bit map, and includes DEntry bounding boxes and attributes (size, complexity, etc.) for all artefacts within the Maplet. As the field of view changes (e.g. for a location-aware device that displays a map while moving), the device (client) software assesses whether or not it needs to download additional data from the server. Thus, if the size attribute or complexity attribute of an artefact that has started to move into the field of view of the device (but is not yet being displayed) is not relevant to the viewer's current context, then the device can choose not to display that portion of the artifact. On the other hand, if the portion of the artefact is appropriate for display, then the device accesses its cache to determine whether the DEntries associated with that portion of the artefact have already been downloaded, in which case the cached content is displayed. Otherwise, the device issues a request for the map server to download all the of the DEntries associated with the artifact portion.

By organizing the Maplet data structure in Layers, it is possible to seamlessly combine and display information obtained from public and private databases. For example, it is possible for the device to display an office building at a certain address on a street (e.g. a 1^(st) z-order attribute from public database), adjacent a river (e.g. a 2^(nd) z-order attribute from public database), with a superimposed floor plan of the building to show individual offices (e.g. 11^(th) z-order attribute from a private database, accessible through a firewall).

Referring back to FIG. 3A, within the network having map server(s) and/or LBS server(s) 321 and database(s) 322 accessible to it, all of the map data for the entire world is divided and stored as a grid according to various levels of resolution (zoom), as set forth below in Table A. Thus, a single A-level Maplet represents a 0.05×0.05 degree grid area; a single B-level Maplet represents a 0.5×0.5 degree grid area; a single C-level Maplet represents a 5×5 degree grid area; a single D-level Maplet represents a 50×50 degree grid area; and a single E level Maplet represents the entire world in a single Maplet. It is understood that Table A is only an example of a particular Maplet grid division; different grid divisions having finer or coarser granularity may, of courser, be substituted. A Maplet includes a set of layers, with each layer containing a set of DEntries, and each DEntry containing a set of data points.

TABLE A # of Maplets # of Maplets # of Maplets Grid to cover to cover to cover Level (degrees) the World North America Europe A 0.05 × 0.05 25,920,000 356,000 100,000 B 0.5 × 0.5 259,200 6,500 1000 C 5 × 5 2,592 96 10 D 50 × 50 32 5 5 E World 1 1 1

As mentioned above, three specific types of requests may be generated by a wireless communications device (i.e. the client)—AOI requests, DEntry requests and Maplet Index requests. The requests may be generated separately or in various combinations, as discussed in greater detail below. An AOI (area of interest) request calls for all DEntries in a given area (bounding box) for a predetermined or selected set of z-order Layers. The AOI request is usually generated when the device moves to a new area so as to fetch DEntries for display before the device client knows what is available in the Maplet. The Maplet Index has the exact same structure as a Maplet but does not contain complete DEntries (i.e. the data Points actually representing artifacts and labels are omitted). Thus, a Maplet Index defines what Layers and DEntries are available for a given Maplet. A data or DEntry request is a mechanism to bundle together all of the required Dentries for a given Maplet.

Typically, AOI and Maplet Index requests are paired together in the same message, although they need not be, while DEntry requests are generated most often. For example, when a wireless device moves into an area for which no information has been stored on the device client, the Maplet Index request returns a Maplet Index that indicates what data the client can specifically request from the server 321, while the AOI request returns any DEntries within the area of interest for the specified Layers (if they exist). In the example requests shown on FIG. 3B, the desired Maplet is identified within a DEntry request by specifying the bottom-left Maplet coordinate. In addition, the DEntry request may include a layer mask so that unwanted Layers are not downloaded, a DEntry mask so that unwanted data Points are not downloaded, and zoom values to specify a zoom level for the requested DEntry. Once the device client has received the requested Maplet Index, the client typically then issues multiple DEntry requests to ask for specific DEntries (since the client knows all of the specific DEntries that are available based on the Maplet Index).

In this particular implementation, a collection of 20×20 A-level Maplets (representing a 1×1 degree square) is compiled into a Maplet Block File (.mbl). An .mbl file contains a header which specifies the offset and length of each Maplet in the .mbl file. The same 20×20 collection of Maplet index data is compiled into a Maplet Index file (.mbx). The .mbl and .mbx file structures are set forth in Tables B and C, respectively.

TABLE B Address Offset Offset Length 0x000 Maplet #0 Offset Maplet #0 Length (4 bytes) (4 bytes) 0x008 Maplet #1 Offset Maplet #1 Length 0x010 Maplet #2 Offset Maplet #2 Length . . . . . . . . . 0xC78 Maplet #399 Maplet #399 Offset Length 0xC80 Beginning of Maplet #0 0xC80 + Size of Maplet #0 Beginning of Maplet #1 0xC80 + Size of Maplet #0 + #1 Beginning of Maplet #2 . . . . . . 0xC80 + Σ of Size of Beginning of Maplet #399 Maplets (#0:#398)

In Table B, the offset of Maplet #0 is 0x0000_(—)0000 since, in this particular example, the data structure is based on the assumption that the base address for the actual Maplet data is 0x0000_(—)0C80. Therefore the absolute address for Maplet #0 data is: Maplet #0 Address=Base Address (0x0000_(—)0C80)+Maplet #0 Offset (0x0000_(—)0000), and additional Maplet addresses are calculated as: Maplet #(n+1) Offset=Maplet #(n) Offset+Maplet #(n) Length. If a Maplet has no data or does not exist, the length parameter is set to zero (0x0000_(—)0000).

TABLE C Address Offset Offset (4 bytes) Length (4 bytes) 0x000 Maplet Index #0 Maplet Index #0 Offset Length 0x008 Maplet Index #1 Maplet Index #1 Offset Length 0x010 Maplet Index #2 Maplet Index #2 Offset Length . . . . . . . . . 0xC78 Maplet Index #399 Maplet Index #399 Offset Length 0xC80 Beginning of Maplet Index #0 0xC80 + Size of Beginning of Maplet Index #1 Maplet Index #0 0xC80 + Size of Beginning of Maplet Index #2 Maplet Index #0 + #1 . . . . . . 0xC80 + Σ of Beginning of Maplet Index #399 Size of Maplet Indices (#0:#399)

In Table C, the offset of Maplet Index #0 is 0x0000_(—)0000 since, according to an exemplary embodiment the data structure is based on the assumption that the base address for the actual Maplet index data is 0x0000_(—)0C80. Therefore, the absolute address for Maplet Index #0 data is: Maplet Index #0 Address=Base Address (0x0000_(—)0C80)+Maplet Index #0 Offset (0x0000_(—)0000), and additional Maplet index addresses are calculated as: Maplet Index #(n+1) Offset=Maplet Index #(n) Offset+Maplet Index #(n) Length. If a Maplet Index has no data or does not exist, the length parameter is set to zero (0x0000_(—)0000).

FIG. 3C and Table D (below), in combination, illustrate, by way of example only, a basic Maplet data structure. Generally, as noted above, the Maplet data structure can be said to include a Maplet Index (i.e. an index of the DEntries, each of which is representative of either an artifact or a label or both) together with data Points for each DEntry that actually form such artifacts and labels. In this example, each Maplet includes a Map ID (e.g. 0xA1B1C1D1), the # of Layers in the Maplet, and a Layer Entry for each Layer. The Map ID identifies the data as a valid Maplet, and according to one alternative, may also be used to identify a version number for the data. The # of Layers is an integer which indicates the number of Layers (and therefore Layer Entries) in the Maplet. Each Layer Entry defines rendering attributes and is followed by a list of DEntries for each Layer. The above forms a Maplet Index. For a complete Maplet, each DEntry contains a set of data Points (referred to herein as oPoints) or Labels). It will be noted that Layers can have multiple DEntries and the complete list of DEntries and Points are grouped by Layer and separated by a Layer Separator (e.g. hex value 0xEEEEEEEE). In this example, each Layer Entry is 20 bytes long, and a DEntry is 12 bytes long. However, the number of Layers, number of DEntries per Layer and the number of Points per DEntry depends on the map data and is generally variable.

Table D provides a high “byte-level” description of a Maplet for this example.

TABLE D Data Quantity Total # of Bytes Map ID 1 4 bytes # of Layers 1 4 bytes Layer Entries # of 20 bytes × (# of Layers) Layers DEntry of a × (# of # of 12 bytes × (Σ of the # Layer DEntries Layers of DEntries in each in a Layer) + Points for Layer) 4 bytes × (Σ of the # of DEntry of a Points in each DEntry in Layer each Layer) + Layer Separator 4 bytes × (# of Layers)

By way of a further example, the wireless network 200 depicted in FIG. 4 can include an applications gateway (AG) 350 for optimizing data flow for onboard applications such as a mapping application 500 stored in memory (e.g. stored in a flash memory 224) and executable by the microprocessor 238 of the wireless device 202.

As shown in FIG. 4, the wireless network 200 hosts a plurality of handheld wireless communications devices 202 (such as the BlackBerry™ by Research in Motion Limited) having voice and data capabilities (for both e-mail and web browsing) as well as a full QWERTY keyboard. These wireless communications devices 202 can access Web-based map data on public map servers 400 hosted on the Internet or other data network 130 via the applications gateway (AG) 350 which mediates and optimizes data flow between the wireless network 200 and the data network by performing various mappings, compressions and optimizations on the data.

The map server extracts generic map content from a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) map database (e.g. Navtech®, TelAtlas®, etc.) at a specified level of resolution (zoom level). Custom graphics associated with the query, such as highlighted route, pushpin for current position or street address, etc. are post-processed and merged by the server with the generic map content. Relevant screen graphics are then labelled, and the merged map graphic is compressed and delivered to the device for display.

In operation, a user of the wireless communications device 202 uses an input device such as keyboard 232 and/or thumbwheel/trackball 233 to cause the microprocessor 238 to open the map application 500 stored in the memory 224. Using the keyboard 232 and thumbwheel/trackball 233, the user specifies a map location on the map application 500. In response to this request/command, the microprocessor 238 instructs the RF transceiver circuitry 211 to transmit the request over the air through the wireless network 104. The request is processed by the AG 350 and forwarded into the data network (Internet) using standard packet-forwarding protocols to one or more of the public and/or private map servers 400, 410. Accessing a private map server 410 behind a corporate firewall 420 was described above with reference to FIG. 3A. Map data downloaded from these one or more map servers 400, 410 is then forwarded in data packets through the data network and mapped/optimized by the AG 350 for wireless transmission through the wireless network 104 to the wireless communications device 202 that originally sent the request.

The downloaded map data can be cached locally in RAM 226, and displayed on the display 222 or graphical user interface (GUI) of the device after a corrected rotation is applied to the obtained map data, as will be explained in greater detail below. If a further request is made by the user (or if the user wants a change in the field of view by zooming or panning), the device will check whether the data required can be obtained from the local cache (RAM 226). If not, the device issues a new request to the one or more map servers 400, 410 in the same manner as described above.

As described earlier, map data can optionally be downloaded first as a Maplet Index enabling the user to then choose which DEntries listed in the Index to download in full. Furthermore, as described earlier, the map application can include user-configurable context filtering that enables the user to filter out unwanted map features or artifacts by not downloading specific DEntries corresponding to those unwanted map features or artifacts.

In a preferred implementation, the wireless communications device includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (“GPS chip”) 550 for providing location-based services (LBS) to the user in addition to map content. Embedding a GPS chip 550 capable of receiving and processing signals from GPS satellites enable the GPS chip to generate latitude and longitude coordinates, thus making the device “location aware”. To obtain local-based services, the map application within the wireless communications device sends a request to the map server for information relating to a city, restaurant, street address, route, etc. If the device is “location aware”, the request would include the current location of the device.

In lieu of, or in addition to, GPS coordinates, the location of the device can be determined using triangulation of signals from in-range base towers, such as used for Wireless E911. Wireless Enhanced 911 services enable a cell phone or other wireless device to be located geographically using radiolocation techniques such as (i) angle of arrival (AOA) which entails locating the caller at the point where signals from two towers intersect; (ii) time difference of arrival (TDOA), which uses multilateration like GPS, except that the networks determine the time difference and therefore the distance from each tower; and (iii) location signature, which uses “fingerprinting” to store and recall patterns (such as multipath) which mobile phone signals exhibit at different locations in each cell.

Operation of the systems described above will now be described with reference to the method steps depicted in the flowchart of FIG. 5. As depicted in FIG. 5, this method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device includes an initial step (step 600) of opening the map application on the device. At step 602, a user of the device then specifies an area of interest (AOI), for example by entering coordinates of longitude and latitude, by entering a city, town, or place name, by clicking or enclosing an area on an existing map already displayed on the device, or by panning or zooming the existing map.

In response to the specifying of an AOI, the device attempts to obtain map data for rendering the map. The device determines (step 604) whether the requested data that is needed to render the map corresponding to the AOI is already cached. If so, then the device obtains the map data by retrieving the map data from the cache (step 606). If not all of the map data is cached in memory onboard the device, then the device seeks to obtain the map data by sending a request to a map server to download the map data over the wireless link (step 608). For the purposes of this specification, “obtaining map data” includes downloading the map data over the air, i.e. over a wireless link, retrieving the map data from a local cache, or downloading the map data over a wired connection, or any combination thereof.

After the device sends the request for map data, the device determines (step 610) whether any portion of the map data needed to render the map for the AOI is unavailable. This is usually accomplished by receiving from the map server a notification that some or all of the map data for the AOI at the chosen zoom level is unavailable. For example, this situation could arise if the user pans into any area for which no map data is available at a given level of magnification, or if the user zooms in to a magnification level for which no map data is available. If data is unavailable, this is preferably indicated onscreen on the portion or portions of the map for which the data is unavailable (step 612).

If all requested map data is available, then the device begins rendering the map (step 614). In one implementation, the map data is received in discrete “chunks”, e.g. “D Entries”, and the device renders each D Entry upon receipt. In an alternative implementation, since the D Entries are layered in a hierarchical paradigm, the device can begin rendering all received D Entries of one layer first, then the received D Entries of a second layer, and so on.

Once rendering of the map has begun, the device determines whether any portion of the map data has yet to be downloaded (step 616). If all map data has been downloaded and rendered to screen, then the rendering process is considered complete (step 618). In other words, nothing further is rendered onscreen. On the other hand, if any portion of the map data has not yet been fully downloaded, then the portion of the map for which further map data needs to be downloaded is hatched, crosshatched, shaded or overlaid with characters (e.g. a written message) to indicate that further map data is still being downloaded (step 620). Once the further map data has been downloaded, then the hatching, crosshatching, shading or set of overlaid characters is removed (step 622). Rendering is then considered complete (step 618).

In a preferred implementation, the map data includes sets of data entries (D Entries), where each D Entry in turn includes sets of data points together representing a map feature. D Entries are downloaded to render the map within a given bounding box or AOI. If one ore more of the required D Entries are “pending”, i.e. still being downloaded, then the device (i.e. the map application) overlays or renders a graphical indication (shading, hatching, crosshatching, etc.) on the portion of the map for which at least one D Entry has not yet been fully downloaded. This informs the user of the device that further details/features of the map are being downloaded and will soon be rendered on the display.

Further features and details of the present technology will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11, which represent various maps rendered on a display screen of a wireless communications device.

FIG. 6 depicts a map rendered on a display of a wireless communications device showing all details and map features after all available map data has been downloaded. As shown in FIG. 6, the map contains labelled highways (“I-99” and “HWY 1”), labelled streets (“1^(st) St.” and “Bridge Road”), and labelled features (“Lake” and “Airport”).

FIGS. 7-10 present maps for which not all of the requested map data has been fully downloaded. For example, FIG. 7 depicts the map of FIG. 6 wherein a top-left portion of the map is hatched to indicate that further data for that portion of the map is still being downloaded. In other words, in the example presented in FIG. 7, the airport symbol (the black airplane) and the “Airport” label are missing (i.e. they are still being downloaded) from the map server. To indicate that further data is being downloaded and that further details or features are soon going to be rendered onscreen, the portion of the map for which the data has not yet been fully downloaded is hatched, i.e. the map application draws diagonal hatch marks over the portion for which further data is being downloaded. The hatch marks constitute a graphical indication to the user that further data is being obtained. Preferably, the graphical indication should be semi-transparent or partially transparent to enable the user to see underlying features and to read any labels already rendered on that portion of the map. As a variant, the map application could ascertain prior to rendering the hatch marks that the angle of the hatch marks does not coincide with any paths or features already rendered on that portion of the map. For example, if a rendered path is angled at the same angle as the hatch marks, the path may be obscured. In that case, hatch marks oriented as a different angle should be rendered onscreen to avoid obscuring the rendered path.

An alternative implementation is depicted in FIG. 8 wherein the top-left portion of the map is crosshatched (instead of hatched) to indicate that further data for that portion of the map is still being downloaded. It should be understood that the line thickness and line spacing in the crosshatching shown in this figure (and in the hatching shown in the previous figure) are merely presented by way of example, and do not represent recommended line spacing and/or line thickness for optimal viewing on a wireless device.

Yet another implementation is depicted in FIG. 9 wherein the top-left portion of the map is shaded (instead of hatching or crosshatching) to indicate that further data for that portion of the map is still being downloaded. In a variant, the shading can be varied, either by enabling the user to change a user-configurable setting or by reference to any underlying (already rendered) map features). For example, the shading of a body of water (to a darker shade of blue) might not be as visually apparent as the same degree of shading applied to a park (green) or to default land (grey or beige). In a variant, the device could vary the shading depending on the attributes of any map feature that has been previously rendered in the portion of the map for which more data is required.

In yet a further implementation, as shown in FIG. 10, the top-left portion of the map can contain overlaid characters constituting a written message to indicate that further data for that portion of the map is still being downloaded. In lieu of a written message, the graphical indication can be a special symbol or icon (such as an animated hour-glass icon, a clock icon, a small progress bar, etc.) Preferably, however, the graphical indication should not obscure whatever map features may have already been rendered on the map.

It should be appreciated that the map application can include a setting to enable the user to select or configure the type of graphical indication (hatching, crosshatching, shading, etc.) or to enable certain types of graphical indication for certain types of maps or depending on the nature of the underlying features (i.e. the features already rendered on that portion of the map).

In a further variant, the map application can indicate with a written message or other graphical indication that further detail is unavailable at a selected zoom level. In the implementation presented in FIG. 11 depicting a magnified portion of the map of FIG. 6, the map contains a written message indicating that further detail is unavailable at that zoom level. For example, the map server might not be able to provide any more detail about the airport symbol presented at a lower level of magnification. Thus, the map application would render the features for which map data is available and would concurrently indicate (with a symbol, icon or in writing) that further detail is unavailable at that particular zoom level. This would inform the user that certain details are missing from the rendered map (in this example, the airport). As a further variant, in lieu of writing, the map application could use a generic landmark icon (a star, coloured dot, etc.) to indicate that there is a feature at that location for which detailed map data is unavailable.

FIGS. 12-15 present screenshots of maps rendered on a display of a wireless communications device. FIG. 12 is a screenshot of a map wherein an upper-right portion of the map is hatched to indicate that further map data is being downloaded. FIG. 13 is a screenshot of the same map of FIG. 12 after the further map data has been downloaded. Similarly, FIG. 14 is a screenshot of a map wherein various portions of the map are hatched to indicate that further map data is being downloaded. FIG. 15 is a screenshot of the same map of FIG. 14 after the further map data has been downloaded. In each of these examples, the user is notified that further data is being downloaded for the area of the map that contains the hatch marks.

The foregoing method steps can be implemented as coded instructions in a computer program product. In other words, the computer program product is a computer-readable medium upon which software code is recorded to perform the foregoing steps when the computer program product is loaded into memory and executed on the microprocessor of the wireless communications device.

This new technology has been described in terms of specific implementations and configurations which are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the exclusive right sought by the Applicant is therefore intended to be limited solely by the appended claims. 

1. A method of displaying a map on a wireless communications device, the method comprising: downloading map data from which the map is to be rendered; rendering portions of the map for which map data has been fully downloaded; identifying a portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded; determining attributes of a map feature that has been previously rendered in the portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded; graphically overlaying onto the portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded a graphical indication to indicate that further map data is being downloaded for that portion of the map, wherein the graphical indication comprises hatch marks so as to be partially transparent to enable underlying features and labels to be viewed through the graphical indication as the map data is being downloaded, and wherein the graphical indication is varied based on the attributes of the map feature that has been previously rendered by varying an angle of the hatch marks to avoid obscuring the underlying features and labels; and progressively removing the graphical indication as the further map data is progressively rendered, wherein hatching the portion of the map comprises: determining angles of features and labels rendered in the portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded; and varying the angle of hatch marks in the hatched portion of the map based on the angles of the features and labels.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hatch marks comprise crosshatching.
 3. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code adapted to perform the acts of claim 2 when the code of the computer readable medium is loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein downloading the map data comprises downloading sets of data entries (D Entries), each D Entry comprising sets of data points representing a map feature whereby the graphical indication is overlaid on the portion of the map for which at least one D Entry has not yet been fully downloaded.
 5. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code adapted to perform the acts of claim 4 when the code of the computer readable medium is loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein downloading the map data comprises downloading sets of data entries (D Entries), each D Entry comprising sets of data points representing a map feature whereby the graphical indication is overlaid on the portion of the map for which at least one D Entry has not yet been fully downloaded.
 7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code adapted to perform the acts of claim 6 when the code of the computer readable medium is loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device.
 8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code adapted to perform the acts of claim 1 when the code of the computer readable medium is loaded into memory and executed on a processor of a wireless communications device.
 9. A wireless communications device for enabling a user of the device to display a map on the device, the wireless device comprising: an input device for enabling the user to cause the device to download map data from which the map is to be rendered; a processor for rendering portions of the map for which map data has been fully downloaded, for identifying a portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded, and for determining attributes of a map feature that has been previously rendered in the portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded; and a display for displaying rendered portions of the map and for graphically overlaying onto the portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded a graphical indication to indicate that further map data is being downloaded for that portion of the map, wherein the graphical indication comprises hatch marks so as to be partially transparent to enable underlying features and labels to be viewed through the graphical indication as the map data is being downloaded, and wherein the graphical indication is varied based on the attributes of the map feature that has been previously rendered by varying an angle of the hatch marks to avoid obscuring the underlying features and labels, and wherein the graphical indication is progressively removed as the further map data is progressively rendered, wherein the angle of the hatch marks is varied by determining angles of features and labels rendered in the portion of the map for which the map data has yet to be fully downloaded.
 10. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hatch marks comprise crosshatching.
 11. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the map data comprises sets of data entries (D Entries), each D Entry comprising sets of data points representing a map feature whereby the graphical indication is overlaid on the portion of the map for which at least one D Entry has not yet been fully downloaded.
 12. The wireless communications device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the map data comprises sets of data entries (D Entries), each D Entry comprising sets of data points representing a map feature whereby the graphical indication is overlaid on the portion of the map for which at least one D Entry has not yet been fully downloaded. 